Switch connection.



PATENTED APR. 5, 1904.

-m MT C RE N w MG um RH W S L 7 6 5 WI 0- N I APPLICATION FILED JULY 20. 1903.

.110 MODEL.

45 responding View of Figs. 4: and 5.

retail-ad. a n e, teat.

FFlhC-ftt FRANK C. ANDERSON, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-I-IALF TO AMERICAN VALVE AND METER COMPANY, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, A. CORPORATION OF EST VIRGINIA.

SWITCH CONNECTION.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 756,771, dated April 5, 1904.

' Application filed July 20, 1903- Serial No. 166,285. (No model-i of Ohio, have invented certain new and use-' ful Improvements in Switch Connections, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this .1 0 Specification.

My invention relates to that class of mechanism for operating switches for railways wherein a target-shaft is provided to carry visible targets for day use and a lantern with colored lights for night use; and ithas for its object the provision of simple and efficient means whereby the life of such operating mechanism is greatly prolonged over those now in general use and whereby the danger of 2c ln-eakage to the switch-points is reduced to the minimum.

The novelty of my invention will be hereinafter more fully set forth, and specifically pointed out in the claims.

in the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of a portion of a main track and a branch therefrom, showing the switch-points and the operating mechanism therefor embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan view of the coupling end of the connecting-bar with my preferred. form of frangible coupling connected thereto. Fig. 3 is an enlarged plan view of the outer end of the coupling-rod of the switch-stand. Fig. 4c is a plan 5 view corresponding to Fig. 2 and showing a modification in the construction of the frangihle connection. Fig. 5 is a s1deelevat1on of Fig. showing the end of ,the coupling-rod in dotted attached to the frangible con- 4 nection. Fig. 6 is a plan view corresponding to Fig. 2, showing a still further modification in the construction of the frangible connection. Fig. 7 is a sectional end elevation of Fig. 2 looking to the right. Fig. 8 is a cor- Fig. 9 is an end elevation of Fig. 6 looking to the left.

The same letters of reference are used to indicate identical parts in all of the figures.

branch or siding rails.

As is well known, in switch construction the ordinary practice is to make all of the partsof.

equal strength and to depend upon the switchtender to properly throw the switch to permit the passage of-the wheels of the train without injury to the switch points. Frequently, however, this work of the switch-tender is neglected, with the result that a train will sometimes run through a locked switch, and the result is that the switch-points are broken or else the operating-gear" of the switch-stand is broken (which is more usually the case) and quite a large expense is incurred in replacing the mechanism. By my present invention 1. obviate this expensive breakage by providing a point of breakage in the point connections which will break before either the point-rails will break or the mechanism of the switch stand itself will break, and this breakable con nection I prefer to make with a plurality of coupling-arms, so that when one breakage occurs by shifting the connection the parts may be coupled up again for instant use without loss of time, and thereby the life of the switch mechanism is greatly prolonged.

Now referring to Figs. 1, 2, and 3, I will describe a simple and my preferred form of switch connection for accomplishing the above described results. "A A represent the main rails ofan ordinary railwaytrack, of which C represents the ordinary cross-ties, and B the One of each of these sets of rails terminates in the usual switchpoints a. The switclrpoints near their extremities'are connected in the usual manner by a connecting-bar D, which projects outside of the track-rails and between two of the elongated cross-ties which support the usual or any suitable switch-stand G, operated by a throwing-lever P and provided with a coupling-arm F, which extends to and is connected to'my improved frangible coupling, bolted or otherwise secured upon the adjacent projecting end of the connecting-rod D. This frangible coupling consists of a socket-piece E, embracing and bolted to the rod D and provided with two divergent perforated lugs I, with one of which lugs the perforated eye on,

Other parts of the connections within the switch-stand or between the same and the point-rails, so that in case a train were to run through a locked switch thus coupled to its switch-stand the frangible connection would break before either the point-rails would give way or before any part of the mechanism within the switch-stand would give way. In such case it would only be necessary. to unbolt thefrangible connection and reverse it upon the connecting-rod D, whereupon the opposite unbroken lug I would be brought in line with the: coupling-rod F, and the parts could be reunited with Very little trouble and the switch thus be brought in perfect operating condition again.

V -NhileI prefer to employ a plurality of lugs upon the frangible connection, yet it is evident'that a large part of the advantage of my invention would be obtained if but a single lug were employed, for the frangible connection is but a small piece of metal, costing very little, and should one bebroken another could be substituted therefor at very slight expense compared to the expense that would be incurred if either the switch-points were broken or the switch-stand were broken, as will be readily understood. g

In Figs, a, 5, and 8 I have shown the frangible connection with its lugs I arranged directly one above the other instead of on a common plane, as in Fig. 2, and in Figs. 6 and 9 I have shown a frangible connection with as many as four lugs l, of which two are arranged pro laterally on the same plane, as in Fig. 2, and the other two directly one above the other, as in Figs. t and 5. This last named frangible connection would of course add a much greater prolonged. length of 'life than the other forms, though all of the forms come within the spirit of my invention.

iaving thus fully described my invention, I claim .1. In switch connections, the coi'nbination of a switch-stand, an operating-rod controlled by the mechanism of said switch-stand, a connecting-rod between and united to the switchpoints, and a frangible connection uniting said operating-rod and connecting-rod, substantially as described.

2. In switch connections, the combination of a switch-stand, an operating-rod controlled by the mechanism of said switch-stand, aconnecting-rod between and united to the switchpoint, and an adjustable, frangible connection uniting said operating-rod and connectingrod, said frangible connection having a plurality of pivotal connecting members, where- 5 by when one is broken another may be em ployed substantially as described.

3. In switch connections, the combination of a switch-stand, an operating-rod controlled by the mechanism of said switch-stand,'a con 7 meeting-rod between and united to the switchpoints, and an adjustable frangible connection uniting said operating rod and connectingrod, said frangible connection having two divergent perforated lugs I and adapted to be inverted and secured upon the connectingrod when either of said lugs is broken, sub stantially as described.

4. In switch connections, the combination of a switch-stand, an operating-rod controlled 30 by the mechanism of said switch-stand, a connecting-rod between and united to the switch- ,points, and a frangible connection provided with a plurality of connecting-points, uniting said operating-rod and connecting-rods, sub- 5 stantially as described. I

5. In switch coi'mcctions, the combination of the main-track rails A, the branch rails B,

the switch-points it, the connecting-rod D uniting the switch-points and having an ex- 9 terior projection, the frangible connection E removably secured to the end of the rod D,

of the rod D and provided with the divergent I00 perforated lugs .l, the couplingrrod if pivoted to one of the lugs l, the switch-stand (i for operating the rod F and the operatii'ig-lover If for the switch-stand, substantially as described.

ERA NK C. AI'UEQBSON.

Ni tn esses:

EnwAnD lnoic, Enwnun S'Ussnom.

DISCLAIMER.

-756,771.Fmnk C. Anderson, Cincinnati, Ohio. SWITCH CONNECTION. Patent dated April 5, 1904. Disclaimer filed April 15, 1907, by the patentee and assignee.

Enters this disclaimer to said claim 1 in said specification, which is in the following words, to wit: y

1. In switch connections, the combination of a switch-stand, an operating-rod controlled by the mechanism of said switch-stand, a connecting-rod between and united to the switch-points, and a frangible connection uniting said operating-rod and connecting-rod, substantially as described. [Ojficz'al Gazette, April 28, 1 907.] 

